Hose clasp



Patented Aug 10, 1937 UNTED STATES PATENT GFFIEE `Application July 6, 1936, Serial No. 89,174 lin Great Britain April 12, 1935 1 Claim.

rlhis invention relates to hose clasps, and has for its object to provide a hose clasp which shall be simple to use, and which, moreover, in use will provide for comfort, at the same time ensuring 5 that the contour is not visible through the outer garments of the wearer.

According to the present invention, a hose clasp, comprising an apertured member and a retaining member in the form of a tongue with a neckless enlargement or stiffening on one side only of its free end about which a stocking can be Wrapped and then passed through the apertured member, is characterized in that the tongue is of such width and shape as to t within the plane of the apertured member, so that, when fastened, there is neither cavity nor protrusion beyond the outer plane of the flat apertured member. The retaining member preferably is directly attached to the apertured member by its upper end, the aperture tapering down to a portion of reduced width at the opposite end so that in use when the top of the stocking or hose to be suspended is Wrapped about the thickened portion at the end of the tongue, and the tongue with the stocking wrapped about it passed through the reduced part of the aperture, the hose is securely held.

In order that it may be clearly understood and more readily carried into effect, the invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which:

Figures l, 2 and 3 show successive steps in securing a stocking by means of a clasp according to the present invention; While Figure 4 is a section cut vertically through the centre of a clasp according to the invention.

As shown in the drawing, the body member 5 is formed from a suitably stiff and quite thin material, having in accordance with the usual practice a central aperture 6 of substantially pear shape, the portion of reduced width being provided at what is in use the outer or lower end of the member 5. A retaining member 'i has the form of a tongue of shape corresponding to that of the central opening 6 but the overall dimensions of the tongue are such that it is free to i'lt snugly within the aperture E. 'Ihe tongue l is somewhat thickened at its free end, as indicated at 8. The thickening may be a part moulded integrally with the tongue, or it may be a separate piece stuck or otherwise secured to the outer end of the tongue l. Conveniently, the tongue is attached directly to the apertured member 5 which has a piece pressed back, as indicated at 9, to form a transverse slit through which is passed the upper end of the tongue which is provided with a rib or enlargement, indicated at I9. The tongue can be nally secured by pressing down the piece 9 to grip its upper edge, and the bead or enlargement I9 will pre- 5 vent the tongue being accidentally pulled out. If the thickening 8 is a separate piece, it may be more convenient to insert the tongue 'l through the slot formed by pressing up the piece 9, and then to attach the thickening 8 afterwards.I

Quite obviously the tongue 1 may be molded from rubber, or may be built up or formed from strips or pieces of any other suitable material, such as leather, conveniently joined together, or a combination of materials, such for example as 10 rubber strengthened with woven tape or some other suitable material.

When a stocking or other garment is to be suspended by a device according to the invention, it is preferred that the enlargement 8 shall be 20 on the inside; therefore, as shown in Figure l, the apertured member 5 is placed inside the stocking With the retaining member I and enlargement il outside the stocking; the next operation is to press the enlargement back through 25 the aperture 6 (see Figure 2) for it to be engaged behind the reduced portion of the apertured member 5, as clearly shown in Figure 3, so that when the hose is secured the clasp in use presents an entirely smooth surface free from 30 undulations.

In accordance with the usuall practice, there will be provided a transverse slot Il near the upper edge of the apertured member 5 to receive an elastic or like member, as shown at l2, extending to a belt, corset or like garment.

The retaining member or tongue hereinbefore described may taper gradually throughout its length, or it may merely be provided at one side of its outer end Where it is intended to be in- 40 serted through the decreased portion of the apertured member with a small enlargement or raised or molded tip, as distinct from a tab and stud molded in one, and it will be understood that after the stocking has been wrapped about 45 the enlargement or increased portion of the tongue or retaining member and inserted through the apertured member in the proper manner, it Will be retained securely in position without any protrusion showing above the plane of the aper- 50 tured member or loop, and, moreover, without any apparent indentation such as would be presented if the tongue were not made to nt inside the apertured member or if an ordinary clasp were used front to back Without a properly fitted tongue such as that proposed according to the present invention.

A hose clasp such as hereinbefore described may of course be used for all forms of suspending devices, but it is particularly applicable for use in conjunction with corsets or belts. In the latter form it is preferable that the clasp shall be attached to the corset or beltthrough the medium of a suitable adjusting device.

What I claim is:

A device of the class described including a body member having a triangular aperture and a transverse slit, one of the edges dening said'slit being pressed outwardly and the other of said edges being pressed inwardly, a tongue shaped retaining member carried by the body member with one end in the slit and having a bead locking said retaining member against outward withdrawal from the slit, said outwardly and inwardly pressed edges of said slit permitting the upper portion of said retaining member to be disposed obliquely downwardly for preventing abrasion, said retaining member having a free end portion formed at one side with a substantially circular enlargement and being adapted to receive a portion of a garment thereabout to be passed through the aperture of the body member and clamped between the body member and said retaining member, said retaining member being adapted normally to lie within the confines of the aperture of the body member whereby the garment portion will be prevented from forming a cavity or protrusion on the outer plane of the body member.

DAGMAR JENKIN. 

